Introducing the New Addition to the MFA Team
L
ove working with local governments? Check. Eager to absorb hundreds of tidbits of information at once? Check. Excited about working with a phenomenal team who is passionate about supporting and developing close working relationships their clients? Check. Joining the MFA in March of 2022 ticked so many boxes for me. As the newest member of the MFA team (aka rookie) I felt compelled to reach out to you all to introduce myself. Am I still feeling a bit stunned? Check!
10 | GFOABC.CA
As the Manager of Client Services, my primary focus is to help you. It’s as simple as that. Whether you need assistance with depositing funds into one of MFA’s Pooled High Interest Savings accounts, you wish to add a new employee’s signatory access to your account with us, or you want a detailed summary of MFA’s Pooled Investment Funds (and perhaps a scheduled presentation by one of our helpful and knowledgeable staff members), I am happy to assist. And speaking of presentations, a significant part of MFA’s mandate is to support education in the public sector. We recognize that our role as educators is all the more important these days as we navigate market and interest rate volatility. We have been having frequent conversations with local government staff on this topic, as many are feeling unsure about the right “course of action” when reviewing and solidifying their organization’s investment strategies this year. Our advice to you all: If you have a well-thoughtout plan, you should not be concerned about the daily interest rate environment. Stay the course. If you are currently invested in pooled bond funds, for example, hold on to what you own until at least the duration of the fund. If you have new money to invest, you must first consider your short- and long-term financial goals; any investments made should always be incorporated into a comprehensive long-term investment plan. From there, you can determine whether it is best to buy a single bond, a fixed-rate GIC, or investing in a pooled fund. What you choose should always be done in relation to your existing portfolio and overall goals and strategy. There is much more to an investment product than the yield it offers. With this approach, you will have the confidence to explain your strategy to anyone
